You’ve decided on a splenectomy for your dog, and you want to prepare for recovery beforehand. Or maybe your pup’s already home, sleeping off the anesthesia, and you’re anxious about providing the best care possible. So—what’s next?
First, as with every step of this disease, your dog’s recovery will be unique – so take it day by day, and don’t panic if something doesn’t go exactly as expected. Recovery time can vary depending on your dog’s overall health, age, the procedure’s complexity, and what the vet found during surgery. While full healing typically takes 10-14 days, many dogs will feel like themselves much sooner.
Your Dog’s First Days of Recovery
When you first bring your dog home after the procedure, settle them in a quiet, confined space to restrict movement. This doesn’t have to be a crate—a secluded area where they can’t climb furniture, jump, or access stairs is ideal. If your dog normally sleeps on the couch or in your bed, opt for a low resting spot to prevent these sudden moves. Keep them warm in a draft-free area, and provide clean, well-insulated bedding to help maintain their body temperature as they recover from anesthesia.
It’s normal for a dog to show some instability, be wobbly, or sleep the first day off and practically not move – this is mostly side effects from anesthesia and pain management medication that your vet may have given them before or after surgery. If a small amount of blood seeps from the wound in those first hours, that’s normal too.
Anesthesia and pain medication can sometimes cause nausea, so make sure they have access to fresh water at all times – this helps flush the medication from their system. When offering their first meal after surgery, start with half their normal portion to avoid nausea or vomiting. Their appetite should return to normal within 2-3 days.
Your dog should pee within the first 24 hours after surgery, but bowel movements may take a few days to return to normal. If they only go outside, you can take them out briefly on a short leash, then right back inside to keep resting and healing. If several days pass and their stool still isn’t looking normal, contact your vet for advice.
Closely monitor your dog’s interactions during the first few recovery days. Your dog may feel uncomfortable or groggy. Energetic pets or young kids could accidentally stress them. Even if they seem back to normal quickly, their reactions might still be unpredictable.
You should check the incision twice a day. Bruising during the first week is normal, and the scar always needs to stay dry – it should look slightly red around the edges and mildly swollen, which will fade over time. If you see gaps between the stitches, funky odor, discharge, and massive swelling, ask your vet how to proceed. It’s also essential to use some form of restriction (like an e-collar) to prevent your dog from licking or chewing the incision site.
Stick to your vet’s medication schedule exactly. If your dog isn’t improving, seems uncomfortable from side effects, or shows pain when they should be feeling better, contact your vet right away to adjust their treatment plan. This will help your pup recover comfortably as quickly as possible.
Longer-Term Recovery Tips
Biopsy results will be ready in 5–7 days. Your follow-up appointment to check the healing progress and next steps will be 12–14 days after surgery.
Getting closer to their check-up, your dog will probably be in great spirits, but they might act fine long before they’re fully healed. You’ll still need to stay observant of a few things: no baths or getting them wet for 14 days (to let the scar close properly), still only taking them outside on a short leash for potty breaks, and keeping a close eye out for strenuous activity that could mess with the scar healing, like running, climbing stairs, slippery floors, or rough play.
Since your pup needs to stay calm during recovery, focus on quiet mental stimulation to keep them content. Food puzzles, controlled sniffing sessions (indoors or out), and teaching new tricks that don’t involve much movement can all help. Even just letting them relax outside while supervised provides enrichment. Always check with your vet about what light activities are safe for your dog’s needs as you approach full recovery.
Final Thoughts
Caring for your dog after surgery will take time, energy, and much, much observation—but seeing how much better they’ll feel makes it all worthwhile. Remember: your vet team is there to guide you every step of the way. Ask all the questions you need, and contact them right away if anything seems off track. And never underestimate the power of extra tender loving care and attention during healing. That love will come back to you tenfold!
Sources:
https://www.goodrx.com/pet-health/dog/soothe-dog-pain-after-surgery
https://www.emergencypetclinics.com/site/blog/2023/06/30/splenectomy-dogs-know
https://wagwalking.com/treatment/splenectomy
https://directvetsurg.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Splenectomy.pdf
